Shoelaces are often supplied to fit a certain number of eyelets (eg. 6-8). This is a VERY rough way to estimate the required length, as shoes can vary widely. Allowing for the shoe width, or using my approximation formula, gives much better results.

Allowing For Shoe Width

How Wide Are Your Shoes?

Wide shoes require much longer shoelaces than narrow shoes with the same number of eyelets. The following tables therefore have separate columns for Narrow, Medium or Wide shoes. The lengths have been calculated using my Shoelace Length Calculator, and are based on typical shoes laced with standard Criss Cross Lacing and tied with an average sized Shoelace Knot.

Length Approximations - Table 1

Use this table if you have a shoe and you want to find out the approximate shoelace length needed.

Horizontal Spacing Across the Shoe

Narrow

25 mm (1 inch) (eg. dress shoe)

Medium

50 mm (2 inches) (eg. sneaker)

Wide

75 mm (3 inches) (eg. skate shoe)

2 pairs of eyelets / lugs

60 cm (24")

70 cm (28")

80 cm (32")

3 pairs of eyelets / lugs

60 cm (24")

80 cm (32")

100 cm (39")

4 pairs of eyelets / lugs

70 cm (28")

90 cm (35")

110 cm (43")

5 pairs of eyelets / lugs

80 cm (32")

100 cm (39")

130 cm (51")

6 pairs of eyelets / lugs

80 cm (32")

110 cm (43")

140 cm (55")

7 pairs of eyelets / lugs

90 cm (35")

120 cm (47")

160 cm (63")

8 pairs of eyelets / lugs

90 cm (35")

130 cm (51")

170 cm (67")

9 pairs of eyelets / lugs

100 cm (39")

140 cm (55")

190 cm (75")

10 pairs of eyelets / lugs

100 cm (39")

150 cm (59")

200 cm (79")

Length Approximations - Table 2

Use this table if you have a shoelace and you want to find out how many pairs of eyelets / lugs it will suit.

Horizontal Spacing Across the Shoe

Narrow

25 mm (1 inch) (eg. dress shoe)

Medium

50 mm (2 inches) (eg. sneaker)

Wide

75 mm (3 inches) (eg. skate shoe)

60 cm (24")

2 to 3 pairs

70 cm (28")

4 pairs

2 pairs

80 cm (32")

5 to 6 pairs

3 pairs

2 pairs

90 cm (35")

7 to 8 pairs

4 pairs

2 to 3 pairs

100 cm (39")

9 to 10 pairs

5 pairs

3 pairs

110 cm (43")

11 pairs

6 pairs

4 pairs

120 cm (47")

12 to 13 pairs

7 pairs

4 to 5 pairs

130 cm (51")

14 to 15 pairs

8 pairs

5 pairs

140 cm (55")

16 pairs

9 pairs

6 pairs

150 cm (59")

17 to 18 pairs

10 pairs

6 to 7 pairs

160 cm (63")

19 to 20 pairs

10 to 11 pairs

7 pairs

170 cm (67")

21 to 22 pairs

11 pairs

8 pairs

180 cm (71")

23 pairs

12 pairs

8 to 9 pairs

190 cm (75")

24 to 25 pairs

13 pairs

9 pairs

200 cm (79")

26 to 27 pairs

14 pairs

10 pairs

Length Approximation Formula

The above tables were worked out using my Shoelace Length Calculator, which uses some fairly exact formulas. However, it's not always convenient to look up this web site, nor to carry a printout of the above tables.

The alternative is my Shoelace Length Approximation Formula:

Horizontal Spacing (in mm) × Total Eyelets + 500 mm

For example, on a typical sneaker with a horizontal spacing of 50 mm and with six pairs of eyelets (12 eyelets total), the approximate shoelace length would calculate as follows:

50 mm × 12 (eyelets) = 600 mm, + 500 mm = 1,100 mm (110 cm)

Note that this approximation will generally come up a little short. For slightly better accuracy, add about 3 mm to the horizontal spacing measurement:

50 + 3 = 53 mm, × 12 (eyelets) = 636 mm, + 500 mm = 1,136 mm (114 cm)

For shoes with lugs instead of eyelets, add the lug width to the horizontal spacing measurement. For example, on a typical sneaker with a horizontal spacing of 50 mm and with five pairs of lugs (10 lugs total), and with each lug about 8 mm wide, the approximate shoelace length would calculate as follows:

50 + 8 = 58 mm, × 10 (lugs) = 580 mm, + 500 mm = 1,080 mm (108 cm)

Finally, for shoes with BOTH eyelets and lugs, add a proportion of the lug width to the horizontal spacing measurement. For example, a boot may have two pairs of eyelets and six pairs of lugs for a total of eight pairs of "holes". This means that 3/4 of the total are lugs, thus only 3/4 of the lug width should be added. With a horizontal spacing of 50 mm and a lug width of 8 mm, we would add 3/4 of the lug width (6 mm). The approximate shoelace length then calculates as follows:

50 + 6 = 56 mm, × 16 (holes) = 896 mm, + 500 mm = 1,396 mm (140 cm)

NOTE: For those who still use imperial measurements, use 2 inches instead of 50 mm, 20 inches instead of 500 mm, and 1/8 inch instead of 3 mm.